Bad news for the #Padres; Josh Johnson out for at least a month to five weeks with flexor strain in right forearm.
— Corey Brock (@FollowThePadres) March 22, 2014

Johnson had an MRI on his right arm, and the result showed the strained flexor mass. The Padres will shut him down completely for 10-14 days in hopes that the strain will heal on its own. Padres manager Bud Black commented on Johnson's injury and the time needed to let him rest. Said Black,

"We'll re-evaluate at that time, and hopefully the pain and soreness have subsided from that time. [Hopefully] we'll get him on a throwing program and get him back up to speed."

Johnson has spent a lot of time on the disabled list since 2011. He made only nine starts in 2011 because of right shoulder inflammation. He spent 89 days on the DL (39 at the beginning and the final 50 at the end) last year due to forearm strain. He had surgery this past offseason to remove bone spurs from his right elbow before signing an $8 million deal with the Padres for 2014. If he makes 26 starts, he will get a $1.25 million bonus. Starting the season on the DL will make that goal tougher to reach.

Johnson is 58-45 in his nine-year career with the Marlins and Blue Jays. He was just 2-8 with a 6.20 ERA in 16 starts for Toronto last year. He was slated as the #4 starter for the Padres before the injury occurred. Brock says that the top candidates to fill in for Johnson include Matt Wisler, Donn Roach, and Robbie Erlin.